Chapter 6
Within a shadowy cave, Evil-Doers plotted.
"I refuse to go after the Kyuubi again! He's got it in for me... He nearly managed to get my sword!"
Well, some were plotting. One or two were whining.
"Kisame, we get the point. You're afraid of some child, yeah. Someone else can handle the Kyuubi while you go and cry in your room."
The Akatsuki were famous in the upper echelons of the ninja world. Any one member of the group appearing would be cause for most ninja villages to enter a state of panic. The fact that they traveled in pairs would cause all but the strongest of villages to either call their leader to battle, or surrender.
"You didn't see the way he was eyeing Samehada! The little bastard was getting ready to grab it and run, I could tell!"
However, if one were to analyze the psychological profiles of the average Jounin ranked ninja, one would come to realize that they tended to be a little... unhinged. Life as a ninja was stressful, and the stronger you got, the more dangerous and stressful life was.
"You're afraid some kid can just walk up and take your sword? Be a fucking man and just beat the boy senseless! Or you can just run away like a scared little girl!"
By the time you reached the level that the average Akatsuki member was at... Well, you kind of earned the right to be immature.
Several figures stood around the room, some actually there, most not. The group known as Akatsuki was planning its eventual capture of the nine tailed beasts, to fulfill some grand plan that no one else quite understood.
"Shut your mouth, Deidara! At least people don't mistake me for a woman!"
"Yeah, they mistake you for a fish!"
Thus, arguments between members tended to swiftly fall into the category most parents would disparagingly refer to as 'bickering'. Due to rather strict rules about fighting each other (and the fact that neither was actually physically present in the same place at the time), the worst they could do was insult each other.
But, as usual, the arguing was swiftly broken up by the 'leader' of the group.
"Both of you shut up. Just... shut up. If Kisame won't go after the Kyuubi, we'll just have to send some other team after them. And since you're so eager to argue with him, Deidara... We'll just switch your two teams' targets. Now Itachi and Kisame will go after the Ichibi, and you and Sasori will go after the Kyuubi. Now... for more important news, we've received word that both of those Jinchuriki's will be out of their respective home villages for the time being, so we'll..."
Kisame didn't even try to hide his sigh of relief. He didn't care, really, what others thought of him. One tended to develop rather thick skin as a child when one had, well, thick skin. That was blue. And had gill slits.
He did put much value, however, into his sword. If anyone were to take it away from him... Well, he wouldn't know what he'd do, but it wouldn't be pretty. It might involve mass murder. Or it might involve Death-By-Chocolate ice cream. Maybe both. At the same time.
But either way... He was just happy he didn't need to worry about it anymore. The fact that his new target made his home in the exact opposite climate that was optimal for Kisame, as well as being able to wield said climate to devastating effect, didn't bother him in the least.
Because Gaara was just known for crushing people with sand, without bothering to take away everything the person felt was precious.
Won't Kisame be in for a surprise when he sees who Gaara will be hanging out with?
Poor, poor Kisame.
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It took quite a bit of doing for Jiraiya to accept the Aoi mission.
Nothing the Sandaime said could really convince him that he should take out a number of children, two of which were jinchuriki (and one of whom was massively unstable), to take out some A-rank missing nin, and defend them all from possible attack by S-rank missing nin.
No, the Third might be the Hokage, but Jiraiya wanted no part of THAT mission. He'd much rather just take Naruto along and handle it himself, but Sarutobi was adamant that Gaara and his team needed to be taken along, as well.
However, Jiraiya WAS convinced, when Tsunade volunteered to go along as well.
The reason she gave was 'to keep Jiraiya out of trouble, and to keep an eye on Naruto'.
The real reason was because the Todoriki Shrine Race was a rather large sporting event, and therefore gambling would be involved.
The mission request involved protecting the runner of one of the teams, and reports from the area are what alerted the Sandaime to the fact that a Konoha Missing-nin was being hired by the opposition to help THEM win.
So, Tsunade reasoned, if Naruto the Luck-Magnet was being hired to help one of the teams win, AND get a new gift for that girl of his... The race was in the bag.
It was a gamble that even she couldn't lose.
So, faced with both Sarutobi AND Tsunade telling him he had to do it, Jiraiya gave in.
But, on one condition...
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Naruto stood, business card in hand.
"THIS is where the new Ichiraku's stand is?"
It was a part of town that he'd only been in when escaping the scene of a cri-err, prank.
The really-really-nice-uber-rich part of town.
Naruto had returned to Ichiraku's stand at 6 am the next morning, in hopes of finding out that the whole 'moving' thing was some kind of mean trick someone was playing on him.
He found an empty lot, with a box of business cards for the 'New Ichiraku's' being the only sign that it had ever been there.
Ninja moving teams were most efficient, it seemed. It looked as if they had just picked up the whole stand and walked away with it.
So, now at 7 am, Naruto stood, looking around, hoping to spot the ramen stand he loved so much.
And he fell on his knees in joy, when he spotted it on the corner of what he recognized to be Hyuuga land (He knew it to be Hyuuga land because it was one of the worst places to try to hide from anybody. After trying it a time or two, Naruto made sure to remember that hiding in a house full of people who can see through walls is a bad idea).
And so, he decided to join the single other customer at the stand in worshipping the spirits in the only way he knew how... Through the divine noodle dish he loved so.
Ra-amen.
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But who else would be up so early to eat Ramen with Naruto at 7 am?
Hiashi had awoken content this morning.
He felt that his sake was now finally safe from intruders. Intruders that could somehow evade the Byakugan were a mighty foe indeed, and it was only his clever, clever daughter who had realized that if the Byakugan could not catch them, then maybe an Aburame insect or Inuzuka nose could.
Indeed, Hiashi's estimation of his elder daughter rose sharply after that. And all she wanted in return was to have a restaurant moved onto some unused portion of their property? Why, that was good business! Why hadn't he ever thought of it himself? Sure, he'd probably not choose a ramen stand, but it was his daughter's idea, and he figured he should encourage this kind of action from her.
But it was a sign of Hinata's inexperience that she chose a ramen stand, and not something nicer. No, the thought was there (and Hiashi was proud of it), but it would take a more... refined... hand to make this work.
No matter where it was, a ramen stand was still a ramen stand... Not a place that the rich and powerful would often want to go to. Snooty people might turn their noses up to the fare, which wouldn't be good for the Hyuuga reputation at all.
So no, Hiashi decided, the Hyuuga clan couldn't afford to have the reputation of catering to the lower cast of society in their choices of food.
So he had to do something to make the stand appealing, to draw in business, and thus increase the Hyuuga prestige.
And it came to him.
'Why, I should be seen eating there myself! After all, if I show publicly that I like this food before any negative rumors get started, then I can turn them all into positive ones. That way, other people will want to 'be like the Hyuugas' and eat like we do... Which would be ramen.'
Yes, Hiashi felt smart indeed, thinking of that.
So, informing Hinata that she was to guard the sake in his absence, Hiashi found himself striding over to the new stand that seemed to be just about to open.
And, even just as he sat down, someone else joined him.
'My plan is working this quickly? Truly, the Hyuuga are a clan full of genius!'
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7 am is when the markets and stalls are beginning their days, a time when more shop workers are present then shoppers.
Thus, the early morning was spent gossiping amongst each other, learning the new goings-on of the town.
And one wild rumor that was flying about, that was quickly confirmed, was that Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hiashi seemed to be... friends?
"So you say that Miso Ramen makes for the best breakfast dish, hmm?"
"Yup! It really gets ya going in the morning! Chicken Ramen is good for lunch, because it's lighter then beef or pork ramen, which make good dinner dishes. Shrimp ramen is good anytime, really, but since it's more expensive I usually save it for special occasions."
"Yes, morning miso truly is one of the most traditional dishes, is it not? There are few better ways to start the morning... But I must say, I never thought to combine it with noodles. It creates a very... intriguing taste."
"It's delicious! Though I've found that the miso needs to be prepared just so, or the noodles and vegetables will interfere with the taste..."
Naruto continued to ramble on, delighted to finally find someone who seemed to agree with him on the awesomeness of ramen. Even better, this guy appeared to WANT Naruto to go on and on about everything he knew about ramen.
So who was he to deny the man ambrosia?
Hiashi was thanking the Gods for blessing him with this child, who apparently knew everything there was to know about his new business, and who didn't even need to be coerced or tricked into teaching Hiashi about it. Hiashi would listen, and learn, and make this new information his own. And with that, he would make this ramen stand into something else that people would be envious of the Hyuuga over.
But the scene... It painted a strange picture for the onlookers.
To everyone else watching... It looked as if the two were old friends talking, with how they both seemed to smile and nod and talk enthusiastically.
What could it mean? How could the two be friends? If they were, why was Naruto pursuing Tenten and not Hinata?
Wild speculations swept through the jewelry district and into market square. Naruto was having a formal meeting with Hyuuga-sama? He was attempting to plead for Hinata's hand? But wait, what about Tenten?
It didn't make sense!
People swiftly came to the consensus that this meeting could have nothing to do with Hinata, because that would mean everything they had logicked out about Tenten would be wrong.
So what else could Uzumaki Naruto have to do with Hyuuga Hiashi?
People began whispering about everything from Naruto earning the right to learn Jyuuken because he defeated Neji, to Hiashi somehow holding the secret to who Naruto's parents were.
But two things were agreed upon: First, Naruto and Hiashi were clearly friends of some sort.
And second... Ramen stands might just become the place to hang out when trolling for gossip.
But no one could come up with any one single idea that held enough merit to become 'the truth'.
But then, if it didn't make sense, it just meant there was something people didn't know yet. There was some information that no one knew, something that Hiashi DID know, that would somehow let the two be friends.
As the villagers pondered the dilemma, Naruto and Hiashi's breakfast time was coming to a close.
"Well, Uzumaki-san, I must get on with my daily duties. But I am interested in discussing with you the various intricacies of ramen. We shall continue this conversation next time you come by and eat."
As Naruto cheerfully assented, Hiashi began his walk back into his house.
'It's perfect! I even have someone to guard the Sake whenever I must leave to speak to Uzumaki-san. Hinata, you are beginning to prove your worth to the Hyuuga family...'
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Hinata sat alone, by the door to the cellar. Her secret spies amongst the Hyuuga household (Neji always did object to being called that, though Hanabi had a blast playing 'ninja') reported that her father was eating with Naruto.
Naruto!
Someone other then she was taking advantage of the fact that Naruto was going to be hanging out at her house?
Was this a good thing, or a bad thing? It could be good, because her dad might decide he likes Naruto, and that he should marry her, and then Naruto would hug her, and kiss her, and take off his pants...
Hinata shook her head a bit at that, took another sip of sake, and resumed thinking.
The bad side, unfortunately, was a great threat. Her dad might decide he doesn't like Naruto, and therefore she would never get the chance to hug him, much less take off his pants.
Hinata never once contemplated the idea that her father might end up enjoying spending time with Naruto so much, that HE would monopolize Naruto's ramen time, and not her.
Because it was just too silly for her to even think of.
But she had to be fast. Her good spy (as opposed to her grumpy one) had just reported that her father was on his way back, so she'd need to put the sake away quick.
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"That was surprisingly little paper work... I thought we'd be here for hours proving our credentials, but no, they just let us right in. Sloppy work, that."
"Well, I'm not complaining. I just want to put my stuff down, and take a shower. Then we can find the Hokage and report in for missions."
Kankurou and Temari chatted quietly as they walked to where they had been informed at the gate that quarters had been prepared for them. Gaara followed silently after them.
You see, Gaara was thinking.
He wasn't stupid... He knew that the people here would recognize him. And seeing as the last thing he had done when he was here was turn into a giant monster and attempt to rampage through the town... well, we he wasn't expecting a warm welcome.
But then, he never did.
Gaara was trying to figure out what kind of missions they'd be put on. It was stipulated in the loan agreement that the Suna ninja's would take missions as teams, so its not like the Hokage could just send him off on his own (however easier that might make things for him). But he also didn't expect to spend much time around Konoha, because it was known that he was a jinchuriki, and therefore a valuable weapon.
But what kind of mission would it be?
And even as Gaara was lost in thought, and he and his siblings were crossing an intersection, an interesting case of deja vu replayed itself for him.
Just like last time he was in Konoha, some random kid just ran into Kankurou.
Only this time... This time he knew the guy.
So even as Kankurou yelled in surprise and annoyance, Gaara stepped forward.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
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The ninja in question, fresh from picking himself off the ground he had been knocked to, turned and froze.
"... Gaara? What the heck are you doing here?"
Naruto had been in a rather mad dash, afraid that he'd be late for his second training session with Tenten. The girl seemed rather strict about training (something Naruto wholeheartedly approved of), and he didn't want to disappoint her for some reason.
And now... this.
Before Naruto could even draw his new sword, or even before Gaara could respond, someone else stepped forward.
"Hold there, honey... We aren't here to fight. We were dispatched to Konoha to help out with the mission load since the... battle."
Temari smirked to herself, not expecting to see the boy who needed to be shown the error of his ways so quickly. Sure, she'd prefer to be washed up and in nicer clothes before messing with his head, but if she was going to be given an opportunity, she might as well take it.
So Temari subtly applied the basics of what she had learned in her Kunoichi courses. She had smiled lightly, placed her hand on his upper arm, and even used a pet name.
And Naruto managed to completely ignore it. Even with his newly growing mindset of the possibilities of life with another girl then Sakura, his body was still prepping itself for a fight with Gaara, and thus everything else was ignored.
So Naruto contented himself with a light shrug to displace her hand, a quick glance to the side, and then readdressed Gaara.
"That true? You're here to help?"
Gaara nodded. Temari fumed. Kankurou chuckled.
'That's twice she's been blown off! I wish I had a camera...'
"Well, if you guys aren't here to fight, than I gotta go. Got training now!"
And with that, Naruto was off again.
"Well, that went well, didn't it Temari?"
"Not another word, Kankurou, or I'll start telling people whose make-up you first stole for your face-paint."
Gaara didn't even bother telling the two to stop bickering... he had more important things on his mind. Like how he could help his obviously inept sister at landing Uzumaki.
It was clear she wouldn't be able to do it on her own, if Uzumaki could blow her off THAT easily.
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'This... This is nice.'
It was a vision that would have fit well into a martial-arts movie training scene. The sun was rising up on a misty morning, wind lightly blowing through a small grove of trees, and two swordsmen were going through a beginner's sword kata in silence.
Or rather, a swordsman and a swordswomen, if you want to be politically correct about this sort of thing.
'Training is usually so hectic and violent... But this is relaxing... Nice.'
Tenten was thinking similar thoughts, because her training usually wasn't like this, either. All too often it defaulted back to target practice for her, with her teammates getting dodging practice.
Her melee skills had gotten a little rusty, but working with Naruto was definitely getting her back into top form.
Naruto was picking up the basic stances with ease, and would be ready to start practicing something other then a basic overhead swing or a thrust soon. Tenten was intentionally going slowly with some of his training, just to prolong their time together. She wanted to be sure that she knew Naruto before she could accept any kind of commitment with him, and this was the most painless and least embarrassing way she could think of to do so.
And he seemed to be a pretty good guy. Enthusiastic, for sure, and eager to please.
'Like a less intense version of Lee... No, not less intense. Just... differently focused.'
Whereas Lee was focused on proving that he himself could be a good ninja without ninjutsu or genjutsu, Naruto was focused on proving that he could be Hokage. At first glance, the two goals are similar... But as Tenten thought more, the differences became increasingly more glaring.
For one, Lee's goal was entirely selfish. Not that it was a bad thing, mind you... But it was a solely personal goal that was only directly for his own benefit. In the long run, it could help many people... But that would only be after he had achieved his own goal.
Naruto's, on the other hand, was entirely selfless. It seemed to Tenten that Naruto knew exactly what a Hokage's job was, and to whom it was to. The fact that he openly stated that he wanted to be Hokage so that everyone would acknowledge him, and that it would be his job to defend them... Well, that seemed to be a mighty high goal.
Of course, if Tenten knew that Naruto's goal was also driven by his desire to be the coolest ninja possible, it might temper her opinion a bit.
But then, she DOESN'T know that. All she knows is that Naruto is extravagant in all he does, and goes about his business in as grand a manner that he could.
After all, why else would he kill one of the Mist Seven and Orochimaru himself just to give her a sword?
Naruto was thinking something along similar lines... He was happy he had decided to give Tenten the two swords. At the moment, she was using the Kusanagi blade. Naruto tried to picture himself training with Sakura-chan like this... And for some strange reason, he couldn't.
Because training with her never went like this. It was always more hectic, and angry, and involved Sasuke making snide comments, and Kakashi making fun of them, and generally, Naruto felt he had to prove that he was worth training every minute.
But here? He had nothing to prove. And that was... nice.
Naruto stole a glance over at Tenten, who was setting up some kind of practice dummy up against a tree.
'Man, she sure is different from Sakura-chan... I mean, she puts so much more effort into training. I don't think I've ever even used a training dummy like this...'
Even as Naruto thought that, Tenten bent over to fasten the bottom of the dummy to the tree, not realizing that it gave Naruto a prime view of HER bottom.
Something that caused Naruto to blush a bright red, and caused much cheering from Sex-Drive Naruto.
Naruto quickly turned away before Tenten could straighten up and notice his blushing. If no one had seen it, well, then it would never be spoken of again.
However, someone DID see it.
An ANBU who had been dispatched by the Hokage to collect both Naruto and Tenten for mission purposes arrived on the scene just in time to see Naruto's cheeks turn a rosy red.
Connecting the dots, the ANBU smirked. She'd have some good news to pass around the market-square tonight when she was off duty, for sure.
But for now, she had two ninja to collect.
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"I'M WHAT!? YES! OH GOD YES!"
"Yes, yes, Naruto, did you really doubt you'd get promoted after what you did during the exams? We just received word back from the judges- Both you and Shikamaru were promoted."
"So, Hokage-sama... Why am I here?"
Naruto and Tenten stood in the Hokage's office. Or rather, Tenten stood... Naruto was off to the side dancing in celebration. Tenten was just confused, though.
"Yes, yes... You're here because you're going on a mission, and the other team who will be on the mission with you requested to have the briefing for it as soon as possible."
Before Tenten could ask what the mission was about, and who this other team was, more people entered the room.
"What are you doing here? Jiraiya-sama said he had a mission for my team?"
Sakura was a tad confused, and more then a little angry. She had just spent all of yesterday brooding angrily over this girl, and now she's here delaying her mission briefing? And why was Naruto dancing?
Before anyone could reply, Tsunade entered the room, followed by Kankurou, Temari, and Gaara.
The Hokage, when everyone had entered, began to speak.
"Yes, yes, I called you here- Naruto, get over here and stop dancing!- Because you six are going on a combined mission. One part is a standard protection mission that will be guarding a key personage in Tea Country to ensure that their government remains one that is friendly to Konoha. The other part is an assassination mission of A-ranked Missing-nin, Rokushou Aoi..."
Author's Notes: And the group dynamic is shifting ever so closer to Naruto figuring out that maybe there's something going on between him and Tenten. Maybe. Possibly. It could happen.
Sakura will have a prime opportunity to figure out what she wants, and what she's going to do to get it in the next chapter. For those who are unsure, Team Baki, Naruto, Sakura, and Tenten (replacing Sasuke at Jiraiya's special request) are being sent with Jiraiya and Tsunade to defend Idate and kill Aoi. At the same time, 4 Akatsuki are being dispatched to capture two jinchuriki.
Fun times to be had for all.
Yeah, I made Naruto a Chuunin… After killing Orochimaru, it's the least they could do. I just felt he deserved it.
Sasuke will come back into the story after the Aoi arc is done, btw. Most of the other genin don't really play a big role in this story, though.
I love writing this Hinata, if ya couldn't tell. I definitely don't want it to come across as me bashing her, but then, its fun to see her plans get foiled, and for her to come up with new ones. And her employing her sister and cousin as 'spies' might even impress Hiashi. Who knows? I like writing him, too, I found out this chapter.